Image processing apparatus, and computer readable medium for communicating with the same

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus is provided that includes a first communication device, a second communication device, an informing device, and a controller configured to control the first communication device to establish first communication with an information processing terminal device that is within a predetermined communicable distance from the first communication device, and to control the second communication device to transmit, to the information processing terminal device, target data that has been informed of by the informing device at a time when the first communication is established between the first communication device and the information processing terminal device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/829,963, filed Mar. 14, 2013, and further claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-082822 filed onMar. 30, 2012. The subject matter of both application are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The following description relates to one or more techniques to allow auser to select data through a simple procedure in an image processingsystem that includes an image processing apparatus and an informationprocessing terminal device.

Related Art

A technique has been known that is configured to establish wirelesscommunication (e.g., near field communication (NFC) and wireless LAN)between an information processing terminal device (e.g., a mobile phoneand a notebook computer) and an image processing apparatus (e.g., aprinter) and to perform data communication therebetween.

SUMMARY

The known technique is further configured to, in advance of accepting aselection of data to be communicated, display a list of identificationinformation (e.g., file names) of data on a display device of the imageprocessing apparatus and prompt a user to select the data to becommunicated. Hence, the user may need to perform various operationswhen selecting the data to be communicated. Thus, the known techniquerequiring such operations is not necessarily user-friendly.

Aspects of the present invention are advantageous to provide one or moreimproved techniques for overcoming the aforementioned inconveniences ofthe known technique.

According to aspects of the present invention, an image processingapparatus is provided that includes a first communication deviceconfigured to communicate with an information processing terminal devicevia first communication within a first communicable distance between thefirst communication device and the information processing terminaldevice, a second communication device configured to communicate with theinformation processing terminal device via second communication within asecond communicable distance, longer than the first communicabledistance, between the second communication device and the informationprocessing terminal device, an informing device configured to inform oftarget data, and a controller configured to control the firstcommunication device to establish the first communication with theinformation processing terminal device that is within the firstcommunicable distance from the first communication device, and controlthe second communication device to transmit, to the informationprocessing terminal device, the target data that has been informed of bythe informing device at a time when the first communication isestablished between the first communication device and the informationprocessing terminal device.

According to aspects of the present invention, further provided is animage processing apparatus that includes a first image processing deviceconfigured to input first image data, a second image processing deviceconfigured to output second image data, a first communication deviceconfigured to communicate with an information processing terminal devicevia first communication, a second communication device configured tocommunicate with the information processing terminal device via secondcommunication, and a controller configured to control the firstcommunication device to establish the first communication with theinformation processing terminal device, and control the secondcommunication device to transmit, to the information processing terminaldevice, one of the first image data that is being input by the firstimage processing device at a time when the first communication isestablished between the first communication device and the informationprocessing terminal device and the second image data that is beingoutput by the second image processing device at the time when the firstcommunication is established between the first communication device andthe information processing terminal device.

According to aspects of the present invention, further provided is anon-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readableinstructions configured to, when executed on a computer, cause thecomputer to establish first communication with an image processingapparatus, establish second communication with the image processingapparatus, receive data identification information for identifying datafrom the image processing apparatus via the first communication,transmit a request containing the received data identificationinformation to the image processing apparatus via the secondcommunication, and receive the data identified by the dataidentification information from the image processing apparatus via thesecond communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system in an embodimentaccording to one or more aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image processing to beexecuted by a multi-function peripheral (MFP) in the embodimentaccording to one or more aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an NFC communication process to beexecuted by the MFP in the embodiment according to one or more aspectsof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an image data transmission process to beexecuted by the MFP to transmit image data to a mobile phone in theembodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process to be executed by the MFP toupdate communication setting information in the embodiment according toone or more aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process to be executed by the mobilephone in the embodiment according to one or more aspects of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements inthe following description. It is noted that these connections in generaland, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that thisspecification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Aspects ofthe invention may be implemented on circuits (such as applicationspecific integrated circuits) or in computer software as programsstorable on computer readable media including but not limited to RAMs,ROMs, flash memories, EEPROMs, CD-media, DVD-media, temporary storage,hard disk drives, floppy drives, permanent storage, and the like.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to aspects of the present inventionwill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Configuration of Communication System>

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system 1 of the embodiment includesa mobile phone 10, a multi-function peripheral (MFP) 51, an access point62, and a base station 61. Each of the mobile phone 10 and the MFP 51 isconfigured to serve as a known wireless LAN terminal device. Further,the MFP 51 is configured to perform communication using a telephone linenetwork 100. The access point 62 is configured to serve as a knownwireless LAN access point.

The MFP 51 has a plurality of functions such as a facsimile transmissionfunction, an incoming facsimile browsing function, a scanning function,and a printing function. The facsimile transmission function is afunction to transmit image data to an external device (not shown) viathe telephone line network 100. The incoming facsimile browsing functionis a function to receive image data from an external device (not shown)via the telephone line network 100 and output the received image data(the outputting of the received image data may include at least one ofdisplaying and printing the received image data). The scanning functionis a function to scan a document sheet by means of a scanner 20 andproduce image data. The printing function is a function to print imagedata on a printing sheet by means of a printer 19.

<Configuration of Mobile Phone>

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 10 includes a controller 6, awireless communication unit 15, a wireless antenna unit 16, a buttoninput unit 17, a panel 18, a mobile phone communication unit 22, amobile phone antenna unit 23, and a near field communication (NFC)reader 30. Further, the mobile phone 10 includes a speaker 3 and amicrophone 4 in order to perform voice communication and input a sound.The elements included in the mobile phone 10 are configured tocommunicate with each other via an input-output (I/O) port 7.

The controller 6 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11 and astorage unit 12. The CPU 11 is configured to execute programs stored inthe storage unit 12. The storage unit 12 may be configured with acombination of a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (RAM), aflash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), and a buffer memory of the CPU11. The storage unit 12 is configured to store programs 21. The programs21 include a MFP control application 28, and an operating system (OS)29. The OS 29 includes a program for causing the mobile phonecommunication unit 22 to perform communication, and a program forcausing the wireless communication unit 15 to perform wireless LANcommunication 201. Further, the OS 29 includes a program that serves anapplication programming interface (API) for allowing each individualprogram to obtain information acquired by various kinds of hardware suchas the NFC reader 30 or for allowing each individual program to provideinstructions to the various kinds of hardware. Further, the MFP controlapplication 28 is a program for causing the CPU 11 to execute abelow-mentioned communication process to communicate with the MFP 51.

The wireless communication unit 15 is configured to perform, via thewireless antenna unit 16, the wireless LAN communication 201 complyingwith an infrastructure mode (a mode to allow a plurality of wireless LANcommunication terminal devices to perform data communication via anaccess point) of a wireless LAN method (a data communication method viaradio waves). Thus, digital signals that form various kinds of data aretransmitted and received via the wireless communication unit 15. As anexample of the wireless LAN method, cited is a communication methoddefined by the standard IEEE802.11a/b/g/n. The NFC reader 30 isconfigured to perform NFC communication 200 with an NFC tag 46. The NFCcommunication 200 is a near-field-type wireless communication executablewithin a communication area of an extremely short distance equal to orless than one meter. The NFC communication 200 may include infraredcommunication and Bluetooth (trademark registered). Establishment of theNFC communication 200 does not need various kinds of communicationsetting information (such as an IP address and an SSID). Further, themobile phone communication unit 22 is configured to perform wirelesscommunication 210 complying with a mobile phone communication method (acellular phone communication method), with the base station 61 via themobile phone antenna unit 23.

The button input unit 17 is configured to accept operations from a userof the mobile phone 10. The button input unit 17 may be configured as atouch panel integrated with the panel 18. The panel 18 is configured todisplay various kinds of information as to functions of the mobile phone10.

<Configuration of MFP>

The MFP 51 includes the printer 19, the scanner 20 a CPU 32, a storageunit 33, a wireless communication unit 36, a wireless antenna unit 37, abutton input unit 38, a panel 39, a modem 40, a telephone lineconnection unit 41, the NFC tag 46, and an indicating lamp 45. Theelements included in the MFP 51 are configured to communicate with eachother via an input-output (I/O) port 43.

The NFC tag 46 is configured to perform the NFC communication 200 withthe NFC reader 30. The NFC tag 46 is provided with a tag storage section47, which is a non-volatile memory configured to store data to betransmitted from the NFC tag 46 to the NFC reader 30. Specifically, thetag storage section 47 is configured to store selected-functioninformation and communication setting information. The selected-functioninformation indicates which function is selected from the functions ofthe MFP 51 (such as the facsimile transmission function, the incomingfacsimile browsing function, the scanning function, and the printingfunction). It is noted that the selected function may not necessarily beselected by the user. The communication setting information includesvarious settings for allowing the mobile phone 10 to establish wirelessLAN communication 203 with the wireless communication unit 36 of the MFP51. For example, the communication setting information may containaccess point information and an MFP-IP address. For example, the accesspoint information may include an SSID of the access point 62. Forexample, the MFP-IP address may include an IP address of the MFP 51.

The CPU 32 is configured to execute programs stored in the storage unit33. The storage unit 33 may be configured with a combination of a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read only memory (RAM), a flash memory, and ahard disk drive (HDD). The storage unit 33 is configured to store imagedata and a data list. The image data is data acquired by variousprocesses (such as a scanning process by the scanner 20 and a facsimilereceiving process by the modem 40) and stored in the storage unit 33.The data list is a list of data identification information foridentifying each individual image data stored in the storage unit 33.The data identification information may include file names of the imagedata. The data list is created in association with each individualfunction. For instance, the data list created in association with theprinting function contains image data, printable by the printer 19,extracted from all the image data stored in the storage unit 33.

The wireless communication unit 36 is configured to transmit and receivedigital signals that form various kinds of data, by performing thewireless LAN communication 203 with the access point 62 via the wirelessantenna unit 37. The wireless LAN communication 203 is carried out at ahigher communication speed than the communication speed of the NFCcommunication 200 within a longer communicable distance than thecommunicable distance of the NFC communication 200.

The button input unit 38 includes keys for executing the functions ofthe MFP 51. The button input unit 38 may be configured as a touch panelintegrated with the panel 39. The panel 39 is configured to displayvarious kinds of information as to the functions of the MFP 51. Theprinter 19 is configured to perform printing on a printing sheet. Thescanner 20 is configured to scan a document sheet and produce imagedata. The modem 40 is configured to modulate document data, to betransmitted by means of the facsimile function, into signalstransmittable via the telephone line network 100, and transmit themodulated signals via the telephone line connection unit 41. Further,the modem 40 is configured to receive signals from the telephone linenetwork 100 via the telephone line connection unit 41 and demodulate thereceived signals into document data. The indicating lamp 45, whichincludes a light emitting diode (LED), is configured to provide the userwith information on various statuses of the MFP 51.

The mobile phone 10 and the access point 62 are configured to performthe wireless LAN communication 201 complying with the infrastructuremode of the wireless LAN method. Further, the MFP 51 and the accesspoint 62 are configured to perform the wireless LAN communication 203complying with the infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN method.Therefore, when the mobile phone 10 and the MFP 51 access the accesspoint 62 to achieve a state where the wireless LAN communications 201and 203 complying with the infrastructure mode of the wireless LANmethod are available, the mobile phone 10 and the MFP 51 are allowed toperform data communication therebetween.

Further, the mobile phone 10 and the MFP 51 are configured to performthe NFC communication 200. Therefore, by bringing the mobile phone 10into close proximity to the MFP 51 (e.g., holding the mobile phone 10over the MFP 51) to establish the NFC communication 200, it is possibleto perform communication of various kinds of information between themobile phone 10 and the MFP 51.

<Operations of Communication System>

Operations of the communication system 1 of the embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. FIGS. 2 to S are flowchartsshowing processes to be executed by the MFP 51. FIG. 2 is a flowchartshowing a procedure of image processing. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showingan NFC communication process. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an imagedata transmission process to transmit image data to the mobile phone 10.FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process to update the communicationsetting information. The processes shown in FIGS. 3 to S are to beexecuted after interrupting the image processing shown in FIG. 2.Namely, each individual process shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 may be launched nomatter what step of the process shown in FIG. 2 is in execution. FIG. 6is a flowchart showing a process to be executed by the mobile phone 10.

<Operations of MFP>

An explanation will be provided as to the image processing to beperformed by the MFP 51, with reference to FIG. 2. In S78, the CPU 32determines whether a function has been selected by the user from thefunctions of the MFP 51 (e.g., the facsimile transmission function, theincoming facsimile browsing function, the scanning function, and theprinting function). For instance, the panel 39 may display thereon iconsthat represent the functions, respectively, and when the user touchesone of the icons, a function corresponding to the touched icon may beselected. When determining that any function has not been selected (S78:No), the CPU 32 goes to S80. In S80, the CPU 32 determines whether themodem 40 has received image data from the telephone line network 100.When determining that the modem 40 has not received image data from thetelephone line network 100 (S80: No), the CPU 32 goes back to S78.Meanwhile, when determining that the modem 40 has received image datafrom the telephone line network 100 (S80: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S81,in which the CPU 32 stores, in the tag storage section 47 of the NFC tag46, the selected-function information representing that the incomingfacsimile browsing function is selected. Then, the CPU 32 goes to S101to start image processing using the incoming facsimile browsingfunction.

Meanwhile, when determining that a function has been selected (S78:Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S82. In S82, the CPU 32 stores theselected-function information corresponding to the selected function inthe tag storage section 47 of the NFC tag 46. In S84, the CPU 32displays, on the panel 39, an operation screen for executing thefunction selected by the user.

In S94, the CPU 32 determines whether a piece of the image data storedin the storage unit 33 has been selected as data to be processed(to-be-processed data). The to-be-processed data may be selected, forexample, when a list of image data names of the image data stored in thestorage unit 33 is displayed on the panel 39, and the user touches oneof the image data names on the displayed list. When determining that apiece of the image data stored in the storage unit 33 has not beenselected (S94: No), the CPU 32 goes to S100, determining that it is acase where image data not stored in the storage unit 33 is used as theto-be-processed data. Examples of the case where image data not storedin the storage unit 33 is used as the to-be-processed data include acase to scan a document sheet and produce image data, and a case to scana document sheet and transmit the scanned data via facsimile.

Meanwhile, when determining that a piece of the image data stored in thestorage unit 33 has been selected as the to-be-processed data (S94:Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S96, determining that it is a case where imagedata stored in the storage unit 33 is used as the to-be-processed data.As examples of the case where image data stored in the storage unit 33is used as the to-be-processed data, cited are a case to transmit storedimage data via facsimile, and a case to print stored image data.

In S96, the CPU 32 displays, on the panel 39, specific information(e.g., an icon, a file name, a thumbnail (a miniature graphic) of theto-be-processed data) for specifying the to-be-processed data. Here,data of which specific information is displayed on the panel 39 will bedefined as a “target data.” In other words, the target data is dataassociated with the specific information displayed on the panel 39. Inaddition, the CPU 32 stores information for identifying the target data(target data identification information) in the tag storage section 47,so as to inform the mobile phone 10 of which data the specificinformation displayed on the panel 39 is associated with. As an exampleof the target data identification information, cited is a file name ofthe target data.

In S100, the CPU 32 determines whether an instruction to execute imageprocessing has been entered. For example, the instruction to executeimage processing may be entered via the button input unit 38. Whendetermining that the instruction to execute image processing has notbeen entered (S100: No), the CPU 32 goes back to S94. Meanwhile, whendetermining that the instruction to execute image processing has beenentered (S100: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S101. In S101, the CPU 32 startsthe image processing corresponding to the function selected in S78.Further, the CPU 32 displays specific information as to the data inprocessing on the panel 39. In this case, the data in processingcorresponds to the “target data.” For instance, when the facsimiletransmission function is selected in S78, the CPU 32 starts a process totransmit data using the modem 40, and displays, on the panel 39,specific information as to the data being transmitted. Further, forinstance, when the scanning function is selected in S78, the CPU 32starts a process to scan a document sheet using the scanner 20 andproduce image data, and displays, on the panel 39, specific informationas to the produced image data. Further, for instance, when there isincoming data from the telephone line network 100 (S80: Yes), the CPU 32starts a process to receive the data, and displays, on the panel 39,specific information as to the data being received.

In S104, so as to inform the mobile phone 10 of the data in processing(the target data), the CPU 32 stores information for identifying thetarget data (the target data identification information) in the tagstorage section 47.

In S106, the CPU 32 determines whether the image processing has beencompleted. When determining that the image processing has not beencompleted (S106: No), the CPU 32 goes back to S106. Meanwhile, whendetermining that the image processing has been completed (S106: Yes),the CPU 32 goes to S108. In S108, the CPU 32 deletes the target dataidentification information (see S96 and S104) and the selected-functioninformation (see S82) stored in the tag storage section 47. Then, theCPU 32 goes back to S78.

Referring to FIG. 3, the NFC communication process to be executed on theMFP 51 will be described. In S110, the CPU 32 determines whether the NFCreader 30 of the mobile phone 10 is in close proximity to (within apredetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46. For example, thepredetermined distance may be about 10 cm. When determining that the NFCreader 30 is not in close proximity to (within the predetermineddistance from) the NFC tag 46 (S110: No), the CPU 32 goes back to S110.Meanwhile, when determining that the NFC reader 30 is in close proximityto (within the predetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46 (S110: Yes),the CPU 32 goes to S111. In S111, the CPU 32 establishes the NFCcommunication 200 between the NFC tag 46 and the NFC reader 30.

In S112, the CPU 32 transmits the information stored in the tag storagesection 47 from the NFC tag 46 to the NFC reader 30 via the NFCcommunication 200. Then, the CPU 32 goes back to S110. Here, when a timeof detecting that the NFC reader 30 is in close proximity to (within thepredetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46 (S110: Yes) is within such aperiod that the specific information is displayed on the panel 39 (aperiod of S96 to S106), the tag storage section 47 stores the targetdata identification information, the communication setting information,and the selected-function information. Hence, the target dataidentification information, the communication setting information, andthe selected-function information are transmitted from the NFC tag 46 tothe NFC reader 30. Thereby, it is possible to determine, as data to betransmitted to the mobile phone 10, the target data corresponding to thespecific information (e.g., an icon) displayed on the panel 39 at a timewhen the NFC communication 200 is established. Meanwhile, in the casewhere the time when it is detected that the NFC reader 30 is in closeproximity to (within the predetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46(S110: Yes) is within such a period that the specific information is notdisplayed on the panel 39 (outside the period of S96 to S106), the tagstorage section 47 stores the communication setting information and theselected-function information, but does not store the target dataidentification information. Hence, the communication setting informationand the selected-function information are transmitted from the NFC tag46 to the NFC reader 30. In this case, data to be transmitted to themobile phone 10 is not determined.

Referring to FIG. 4, an explanation will be provided as to the imagedata transmission process to transmit image data to the mobile phone 10.In S114, the CPU 32 determines whether the MFP 51 (the CPU 32) hasreceived a connection request to establish the wireless LANcommunication. When determining that the MFP 51 has not received theconnection request to establish the wireless LAN communication (S114:No), the CPU 32 goes back to S114. Meanwhile, when determining that theMFP 51 has received the connection request to establish the wireless LANcommunication (S114: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S115. In S115, the CPU 32controls the wireless communication unit 36 to establish the wirelessLAN communication 203 using the communication setting information storedin the tag storage section 47.

In S116, the CPU 32 determines whether the MFP 51 (the CPU 32) hasreceived a target data transmission request from the mobile phone 10.The target data transmission request, which contains the target dataidentification information, is a request to transmit the target dataidentified by the target data identification information to the mobilephone 10 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203. Whendetermining that the MFP 51 has received the target data transmissionrequest from the mobile phone 10 (S116: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S124,determining that it is a case where the specific information isdisplayed on the panel 39 at the time of detecting that the NFC reader30 is in close proximity to (within the predetermined distance from) theNFC tag 46 (S110: Yes). Meanwhile, when determining that the MFP 51 hasnot received the target data transmission request from the mobile phone10 (S116: No), the CPU 32 goes to S118, determining that it is a casewhere the specific information is not displayed on the panel 39 at thetime of detecting that the NFC reader 30 is in close proximity to(within the predetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46 (S110: Yes).

In S118, the CPU 32 determines whether the MFP 51 (the CPU 32) hasreceived a data list transmission request from the mobile phone 10. Thedata list transmission request is a request to transmit a data listcorresponding to the function currently selected on the MFP 51 to themobile phone 10 via the wireless LAN communication 203. When determiningthat the MFP 51 has not received the data list transmission request fromthe mobile phone 10 (S118: No), the CPU 32 goes to S120. In S120, theCPU 32 performs other general processes, and then goes back to S114.Meanwhile, when determining that the MFP 51 has received the data listtransmission request from the mobile phone 10 (S118: Yes), the CPU 32goes to S122.

In S122, the CPU 32 reads out, from the storage unit 33, a data listcorresponding to the function currently selected on the MFP 51, andtransmits the read data list to the mobile phone 10. In S123, the CPU 32determines whether the MFP 51 (the CPU 32) has received a selected-datatransmission request containing selected-data identification informationfrom the mobile phone 10. The selected-data identification informationis information for identifying image data (hereinafter referred to asselected data) selected on the mobile phone 10. When determining thatthe MFP 51 has not received the selected-data transmission requestcontaining the selected-data identification information from the mobilephone 10 (S123: No), the CPU 32 goes back to S123. Meanwhile, whendetermining that the MFP 51 has received the selected-data transmissionrequest containing the selected-data identification information from themobile phone 10 (S123: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S124.

In S124, the CPU 32 transmits, to the mobile phone 10 via the wirelessLAN communications 201 and 203, the target data identified by the targetdata identification information contained in the target datatransmission request, or the selected data identified by theselected-data identification information contained in the selected-datatransmission request. Then, the CPU 32 goes back to S114.

Referring to FIG. 5, an explanation will be provided as to the processto update the communication setting information stored in the tagstorage section 47. In S130, the CPU 32 determines whether aninstruction to display a network setting screen has been entered. Thenetwork setting screen is a screen for setting various setting valuescontained in the communication setting information stored in the tagstorage section 47. For example, the instruction to display the networksetting screen may be entered via the button input unit 38.

In S132, the CPU 32 determines whether the access point information,which is one of the setting values contained in the communicationsetting information, has been changed. When determining that the accesspoint information has not been changed (S132: No), the CPU 32 goes toS142. Meanwhile, when determining that the access point information hasbeen changed (S132: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S134. In S134, the CPU 32stores the changed access point information in the tag storage section47 in an overwriting manner.

In S142, the CPU 32 determines whether the MFP-IP address, which is oneof the setting values contained in the communication settinginformation, has been changed. When determining that the MFP-IP addresshas not been changed (S142: No), the CPU 32 goes back to S130.Meanwhile, when determining that the MFP-IP address has been changed(S142: Yes), the CPU 32 goes to S144. In S144, the CPU 32 stores thechanged MFP-IP address in the tag storage section 47 in an overwritingmanner. Then, the CPU 32 goes back to S130.

<Operations of Mobile Phone>

Referring to FIG. 6, a process to be executed by the mobile phone 10will be described. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 islaunched in response to execution of the MFP control application 28. InS212, the CPU 11 determines whether the NFC tag 46 of the MFP 51 is inclose proximity to (within the predetermined distance from) the NFCreader 30. When determining that the NFC tag 46 is not in closeproximity to (within the predetermined distance from) the NFC reader 30(S212: No), the CPU 11 goes back to S212. Meanwhile, when determiningthat the NFC tag 46 is in close proximity to (within the predetermineddistance from) the NFC reader 30 (S212: Yes), the CPU 11 goes to S214.

In S214, the CPU 11 controls the NFC reader 30 to receive informationtransmitted from the NFC tag 46 via the NFC communication 200. When theNFC reader 30 is brought into close proximity to (within thepredetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46 within the period that thespecific information is displayed on the panel 39 of the MFP 51, theinformation transmitted from the NFC tag 46 contains the target dataidentification information, the communication setting information, andthe selected-function information. Meanwhile, when the NFC reader 30 isbrought into close proximity to (within the predetermined distance from)the NFC tag 46 within the period that the specific information is notdisplayed on the panel 39 of the MFP 51, the information transmittedfrom the NFC tag 46 contains the communication setting information andthe selected-function information, but does not contain the target dataidentification information.

In S215, the CPU 11 determines whether the information transmitted fromthe NFC tag 46 contains the selected-function information. Whendetermining that the information transmitted from the NFC tag 46 doesnot contain the selected-function information (S215: No), the CPU 11goes back to S212, determining that it is a case where when the user hasnot selected any of the plurality of functions (S78: No), or when theMFP 51 has not received any facsimile data (S80: No), the NFC tag 46 isbrought into close proximity to (within the predetermined distance from)the NFC reader 30, and the NFC communication 200 is performed.Meanwhile, when determining that the information transmitted from theNFC tag 46 contains the selected-function information (S215: Yes), theCPU 11 goes to S216.

In S216, the CPU 11 controls the wireless communication unit 15 toestablish a wireless connection with the access point 62. In S218, theCPU 11 establishes communication with the MFP 51 via the wireless LANcommunications 201 and 203. In S282, the CPU 11 determines whether datareceived from the MFP 51 via the NFC communication 200 contains thetarget data identification information. When determining that the datareceived from the MFP 51 via the NFC communication 200 contains thetarget data identification information (S282: Yes), the CPU 11 goes toS290, determining that it is a case where the NFC reader 30 is broughtinto close proximity to (within the predetermined distance from) the NFCtag 46 within the period that the specific information is displayed onthe panel 39 of the MFP 51, and the data to be transmitted to the mobilephone 10 is determined. Meanwhile, when determining that the datareceived from the MFP 51 via the NFC communication 200 does not containthe target data identification information (S282: No), the CPU 11 goesto S284, determining that it is a case where the NFC reader 30 isbrought into close proximity to (within the predetermined distance from)the NFC tag 46 within the period that the specific information is notdisplayed on the panel 39 of the MFP 51, and the data to be transmittedto the mobile phone 10 is not determined.

In S284, the CPU 11 transmits the data list transmission request to theMFP 51 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203. At this time,requested is the data list corresponding to the function specified bythe selected-function information received in S214 (the functioncurrently selected on the MFP 51). In S286, the CPU 11 determineswhether the mobile phone 10 (the CPU 11) has received the data list fromthe MFP 51 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203. Whendetermining that the mobile phone 10 has not received the data list fromthe MFP 51 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203 (S286: No),the CPU 11 goes back to S286. Meanwhile, when determining that themobile phone 10 has received the data list from the MFP 51 via thewireless LAN communications 201 and 203 (S286: Yes), the CPU 11 goes toS288.

In S288, the CPU 11 displays the data list on the panel 18 of the mobilephone 10. Thereby, it is possible to provide the user with a list ofdata processable using the function currently selected on the MFP 51.Then, the CPU 11 accepts entry for selecting image data from the datalist. For example, the entry for selecting image data from the data listmay be accepted via the button input unit 17. In S289, the CPU 11determines whether a selection of the image data has been entered. Whendetermining that a selection of the image data has not been entered(S289: No), the CPU 11 goes back to S289. Meanwhile, when determiningthat a selection of the image data (the selected data) has been entered(S289: Yes), the CPU 11 goes to S290. In S290, the CPU 11 transmits, tothe MFP 51 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203, theselected-data transmission request containing the selected-dataidentification information for identifying the image data selected inS289. It is noted that, when determining in S282 that the data receivedfrom the MFP 51 via the NFC communication 200 contains the target dataidentification information (S282: Yes), in S290, the CPU 11 transmitsthe target data transmission request containing the target dataidentification information to the MFP 51 via the wireless LANcommunications 201 and 203.

In S292, the CPU 11 determines whether the mobile phone 10 (the CPU 11)has received the target data or the selected data from the MFP 51 viathe wireless LAN communications 201 and 203. When determining that themobile phone 10 has not received the target data or the selected datafrom the MFP 51 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203 (S292:No), the CPU 11 goes back to S292. Meanwhile, when determining that themobile phone 10 has received the target data or the selected data fromthe MFP 51 via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203 (S292: Yes),the CPU 11 goes to S294. In S294, the CPU 11 stores the received data inthe storage unit 12. Afterward, the CPU 11 terminates the process shownby the flowchart of FIG. 6.

<Advantageous Effects>

An explanation will be provided as to advantageous effects of thecommunication system 1 configured as above in the embodiment. Bybringing the mobile phone 10 having the NFC reader 30 into closeproximity to (e.g., within a predetermined distance of 10 cm from) theNFC tag 46 (S110: Yes, and S212: Yes) within the period (the period ofS96 to S106) that the specific information (e.g., an icon) of the targetdata is displayed on the panel 39 of the MFP 51, it is possible todetermine the target data corresponding to the specific informationdisplayed on the panel 39, as data to be transmitted to the mobile phone10. Thereby, it is possible to omit various input operations through thebutton input units 17 and 38 to select the data to be transmitted to themobile phone 10. Thus, it is possible to operate the communicationsystem 1 (the mobile phone 10 and the MFP 51) in an intuitive manner andenhance user-friendliness of the communication system 1.

The communicable distance of the NFC communication 200 is shorter thanthat of the wireless LAN communication 203. Thereby, even when there area plurality of MFPs, it is possible to select an intended one of theplurality of MFPs as a communication party by bringing the mobile phone10 into close proximity to (within the predetermined distance from) theintended MFP. Thus, by using the NFC communication 200, an intuitiveoperation of holding the mobile phone 10 over the intended MFP makes itpossible to specify the intended MFP.

For instance, when the scanning function is selected as a function to beexecuted on the MFP 51 (S78), during a period to scan a document sheetusing the scanner 20, the specific information (e.g., an icon) forspecifying the data in processing (scanning) is displayed on the panel39 of the MFP 51 (S101). Further, for instance, when the incomingfacsimile browsing function is selected as a function to be executed onthe MFP 51 (S78), during a period to receive data using the modem 40,the specific information (e.g., an icon) for specifying the data inprocessing (data receiving) is displayed on the panel 39 of the MFP 51(S101). Further, for instance, when the printing function is selected asa function to be executed on the MFP 51 (S78), during a period toperform printing using the printer 19, the specific information (e.g.,an icon) for specifying the data in processing (printing) is displayedon the panel 39 of the MFP 51 (S101). Then, when the user wishes toreceive the image data in processing by the mobile phone 10, the userhas only to hold the mobile phone 10 over the MFP 51 during the periodthat the specific information is displayed on the panel 39. Thereby, itis possible to receive, by the mobile phone 10, the target data (theimage data in processing) corresponding to the specific informationdisplayed on the panel 39. Thus, through such an intuitive operation, itis possible to receive user's desired data.

When the MFP 51 (the CPU 32) does not receive the target datatransmission request from the mobile phone 10 (S116: No), it is a casewhere the specific information is not displayed on the panel 39 at thetime when the MFP 51 detects that the NFC reader 30 is in closeproximity to (within the predetermined distance from) the NFC tag 46(S110: Yes). Namely, it is a case where the data to be transmitted tothe mobile phone 10 is not determined. Therefore, by transmitting thedata list to the mobile phone 10 (S122), the MFP 51 is allowed to causethe mobile phone 10 to perform the process to select the data to betransmitted to the mobile phone 10 (S288). Then, in response to receiptof the selected-data transmission request containing the selected-dataidentification information from the mobile phone 10 (S123: Yes), the MFP51 is allowed to transmit the selected data identified by theselected-data identification information to the mobile phone 10 via thewireless LAN communications 201 and 203 (S124). Thereby, when the mobilephone 10 is held over (brought into close proximity to) the MFP 51during the period that the specific information is not displayed on thepanel 39, it is possible to select the data to be communicated, on themobile phone 10.

The communication speed of the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203is faster than that of the NFC communication 200. Further, the imagedata is communicated via the wireless LAN communications 201 and 203(S124). Thereby, it is possible to achieve faster communication of theimage data than when using the NFC communication 200. Thus, it ispossible to shorten a time taken for the communication of the imagedata.

Hereinabove, the embodiment according to aspects of the presentinvention has been described. The present invention can be practiced byemploying conventional materials, methodology and equipment.Accordingly, the details of such materials, equipment and methodologyare not set forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions,numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific materials,structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. However, it should be recognizedthat the present invention can be practiced without reapportioning tothe details specifically set forth. In other instances, well knownprocessing structures have not been described in detail, in order not tounnecessarily obscure the present invention.

Only an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and but a fewexamples of their versatility are shown and described in the presentdisclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is capableof use in various other combinations and environments and is capable ofchanges or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept asexpressed herein. For example, the following modifications are possible.It is noted that, in the following modifications, explanations of thesame configurations as exemplified in the aforementioned embodiment willbe omitted.

[Modifications]

In the aforementioned embodiment, the mobile phone 10 is configured toperform the wireless LAN communication 201 with the access point 62.However, the mobile phone 10 may be configured to perform wiredcommunication with the access point 62, for instance, via a LAN cable.In this case, the mobile phone 10 may be configured to establishcommunication with the MFP 51 even without receiving any information onthe SSID of the access point 62. Hence, the communication settinginformation (see S112) to be transmitted from the MFP 51 to the mobilephone 10 via the NFC communication 200 may contain at least the IPaddress of the MFP 51.

In the aforementioned embodiment, in S96 and S101, the specificinformation is displayed on the panel 39 of the MFP 51. However, themethod for informing the user of the specific information is not limitedto the method to display the specific information on the panel 39. Forexample, the method for informing the user of the specific informationmay be a method to inform the user, using the indicating lamp 45, of thespecific information that the image processing is in execution (S106:No).

In the aforementioned embodiment, the receipt of the target datatransmission request (see S116), the receipt of the data listtransmission request (see S118), and the transmission of the data list(see S122) are carried out via the wireless LAN communication 203.However, the receipt of the target data transmission request (see S116),the receipt of the data list transmission request (see S118), and thetransmission of the data list (see S122) may be implemented via the NFCcommunication 200.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the explanation has been provided asto the case where in S82, the MFP 51 (the CPU 32) stores theselected-function information corresponding to the selected function ofthe MFP 51 in the tag storage section 47 of the NFC tag 46. However, thestep S82 may be omitted. In this case, since the selected-functioninformation is not transmitted to the mobile phone 10, the mobile phone10 is not allowed to recognize the function currently selected on theMFP 51. Therefore, in S284, the mobile phone 10 (the CPU 11) may displayon the panel 18 thereof a screen for selecting a function of the MFP 51and accept entry to select a function of the MFP 51. Further, the mobilephone 10 may be configured to, in response to the acceptance of theentry to select a function of the MFP 51, issue to the MFP 51 a requestfor the data list corresponding to the selected function.

In S215, when the information transmitted from the NFC tag 46 does notcontain the selected-function information (S215: No), the mobile phone10 (the CPU 11) may establish the wireless connection with the accesspoint 62 (S216) and establish the communication with the MFP 51 (S218).Then, in S218, the mobile phone 10 may issue a request for data listsregarding all the functions of the MFP 51. Further, in S288, the mobilephone 10 may display on the panel 18 thereof a screen for selecting afunction of the MFP 51 and accept entry to select a function of the MFP51. Moreover, the mobile phone 10 may display on the panel 18 the datalist corresponding to the selected function.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the communication for achieving thefacsimile transmission function and the incoming facsimile browsingfunction is performed via the telephone line network 100. However, thecommunication for achieving the facsimile transmission function and theincoming facsimile browsing function may be performed via an Internet(not shown).

The mobile phone 10 and the MFP 51 may be configured to perform wirelessLAN communication in an ad-hoc mode without having to involving theaccess point 62.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the data of which the specificinformation is displayed on the panel 39 is defined as the “targetdata.” However, the specific information displayed on the panel 39 mayinclude specific information that is not currently displayed on thepanel 39 but is displayable on the panel 39 through a scrollingoperation.

In S106, the determination that “the image processing has beencompleted” may not necessarily be made in response to an event thatimage processing such as a scanning process or a facsimiletransmitting-receiving process has been completed, but may be made inresponse to acceptance of a user's input (e.g., pressing of an OKbutton) for informing that the user has confirmed that the imageprocessing has been completed, after the completion of the imageprocessing. In this case, the state where the specific information isdisplayed on the panel 30 may be maintained until acceptance of theuser's input for informing that the user has confirmed that the imageprocessing has been completed. Alternatively, the determination that“the image processing has been completed” may be made after a lapse of apredetermined period of time (e.g., five minutes) since the completionof the image processing. In this case, the state where the specificinformation is displayed on the panel 30 may be maintained until thepredetermined period of time elapses since the completion of the imageprocessing.

Further, instead of the mobile phone 10, a device having a communicationfunction (e.g., a notebook computer) may be employed. In this case, theMFP control application 28 may be included in various kinds of driversoftware installed in the notebook computer.

There may be one or more MFPs each having an NFC tag, in addition to theMFP 51 exemplified in the aforementioned embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: aplurality of image processing devices configured to execute a pluralityof kinds of image processing; a first communication device configured tocommunicate with an information processing terminal device via firstcommunication within a first communicable distance between the firstcommunication device and the information processing terminal device; asecond communication device configured to communicate with theinformation processing terminal device via second communication within asecond communicable distance, longer than the first communicabledistance, between the second communication device and the informationprocessing terminal device; an information storage; and a controllercoupled with the first communication device, the second communicationdevice and the information storage via an input-output port, thecontroller being configured to: select a specific kind of imageprocessing from among the plurality of kinds of image processing;control a specified one of the image processing devices to execute thespecific kind of image processing; store identification information intothe information storage, the identification information identifying thespecific kind of image processing in execution by the specified one ofthe image processing devices; control the first communication device toestablish the first communication with the information processingterminal device that is within the first communicable distance from thefirst communication device; and in response to the first communicationbeing established between the first communication device and theinformation processing terminal device while the specific kind of imageprocessing for target data is in execution, perform: causing theinformation processing terminal device to read out the identificationinformation identifying the specific kind of image processing inexecution; and after the identification information is read out by theinformation processing terminal device, performing: establishing thesecond communication with the information processing terminal device viathe second communication device; and controlling the secondcommunication device to transmit the target data, on which the specifickind of image processing, which is identified by the informationprocessing terminal device based on the read out identificationinformation, is performed, to the information processing terminaldevice.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe controller is further configured to: control the first communicationdevice to establish the first communication to wirelessly communicatewith the information processing terminal device at a first communicationspeed, in response to the first communication device coming within thefirst communicable distance from the information processing terminaldevice; and control the second communication device to establish, usingcommunication setting information, the second communication tocommunicate with the information processing terminal device at a secondcommunication speed higher than the first communication speed of thefirst communication.
 3. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control thefirst communication device to transmit the communication settinginformation to the information processing terminal device via the firstcommunication.
 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to: control the firstcommunication device to transmit target data identification informationfor identifying the target data to the information processing terminaldevice via the first communication; and control the second communicationdevice to transmit the target data, identified by the target dataidentification information, to the information processing terminaldevice via the second communication in response to receipt of a requestcontaining the target data identification information afterestablishment of the second communication.
 5. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device,wherein the controller is further configured to: control one of thefirst communication device and the second communication device totransmit data identification information for identifying data stored inthe storage device, to the information processing terminal device via acorresponding one of the first communication and the secondcommunication, when the image processing apparatus is not executing theimage processing of the target data at a time of beginning to establishthe corresponding one of the first communication and the secondcommunication; and control the second communication device to, inresponse to receiving selected-data identification information foridentifying data selected on the information processing terminal devicefrom the information processing terminal device, transmit the selecteddata identified by the selected-data identification information to theinformation processing terminal device via the second communication. 6.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of kinds of image processing include an image scanningoperation of scanning an image on a document sheet and producing thetarget data based on the scanned image; wherein the controller isfurther configured to: in response to selecting the image scanningoperation as the specific kind of image processing, store theidentification information into the information storage; and in responseto the first communication being established between the firstcommunication device and the information processing terminal deviceduring execution of the image scanning operation, perform: causing theinformation processing terminal device to read out the identificationinformation store in the information storage via the firstcommunication; and after the identification information is read out bythe information processing terminal device, controlling the secondcommunication device to transmit the target data produced by the imagescanning operation to the information processing terminal device.
 7. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising ascanning device configured to perform the image scanning operation. 8.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of kinds of image processing include an image transmittingoperation of transmitting image data as the target data via thirdcommunication; wherein the controller is further configured to, inresponse to selecting the image transmitting operation as the specifickind of image processing, store the identification information in to theinformation storage.
 9. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 8, further comprising a third communication device configured toperform the image transmitting operation of transmitting the target datavia the third communication.
 10. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of kinds of image processinginclude an image printing operation of printing an image based on thetarget data; wherein the controller is further configured to, inresponse to selecting the image printing operation as the specific kindof image processing, store the identification information in theinformation storage.
 11. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 10, further comprising: a storage device configured to store thetarget data; and a printing device configured to perform the imageprinting operation based on the target data stored in the storagedevice.
 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe controller is further configured to accept a user operation anddetermine which kind of image processing is selected based on theaccepted user operation.
 13. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of kinds of image processing include afacsimile outputting process to receive image data via a telephone lineand output the received image data, and wherein the controller isfurther configured to perform: in response to receiving the image datavia the telephone line, selecting the facsimile outputting process asthe specific kind of image processing; and storing the identificationinto the information storage.
 14. An image processing apparatuscomprising: a plurality of image processing devices configured toexecute a plurality of kinds of image processing; a first communicationdevice configured to communicate with an information processing terminaldevice via the first communication within a first communicable distancebetween the first communication device and the information processingterminal device; a second communication device configured to communicatewith the information processing terminal device via second communicationwithin a second communicable distance, longer than the firstcommunicable distance, between the second communication device and theinformation processing terminal device; and a controller coupled withthe first communication device and the second communication device viaan input-output port, wherein the plurality of kinds of image processinginclude an image scanning operation of scanning an image on a documentsheet and producing scanned data based on the scanned image, and whereinthe controller being configured to: select a specific kind of imageprocessing from among the plurality of kinds of image processing;control the first communication device to establish the firstcommunication with the information processing terminal device that iswithin the first communicable distance from the first communicationdevice; and in response to selecting the image scanning operation as thespecific kind of image processing, execute the image scanning operation;and in response to the first communication being established between thefirst communication device and the information processing terminaldevice while the image scanning operation is in execution, perform:controlling the information processing terminal device to read outidentification information, the identification information identifyingthat the image scanning operation in execution; and after theidentification information is read out by the information processingterminal device, performing: establishing the second communication withthe information processing terminal device via the second communicationdevice; and controlling the second communication device to output thescanned data, which is produced by the image scanning operationidentified by the information processing terminal device based on theoutput identification information, to the information processingterminal device.
 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim14, wherein the plurality of kinds of image processing include an imageprinting operation of printing an image based on image data, and whereinthe controller is further configured to: in response to selecting theimage printing operation as the specific kind of image processing,execute the image printing operation; and in response to the firstcommunication being established between the first communication deviceand the information processing terminal device while the image printingoperation is in execution, perform: controlling the informationprocessing terminal device to read out identification information, theidentification information identifying that the image printing operationin execution; and after the identification information is read out bythe information processing terminal device, performing: establishing thesecond communication with the information processing terminal device viathe second communication device; and controlling the secondcommunication device to output the image data, which is printed by theimage printing operation identified by the information processingterminal device based on the output identification information, to theinformation processing terminal device.